2 February 2015
When It Comes To Incontinence You Shouldn’t Suffer In Silence
In modern society we are all very busy people, so when urine leaks start it may just be seen as a nuisance. Research has shown that women wait about five to ten years to seek assistance for urinary incontinence. Yes five to ten years! Here at Incontinence UK we feel that is far to long.
Research tells us that the below are the 10 common reasons that deter or delay sufferers, especially women, from seeking professional advice or assistance for the problem:
- It’s a private problem. This is usually due to feelings of vulnerability, embarrassment or shame about the condition. While these emotions are normal reactions to urinary problems. We do not feel that it should make you stay quiet.
- Urinary problems are hereditary. Sufferers are discouraged from seeking assistance when urinary changes are viewed as an inherited problem. Why heredity beliefs discourage sufferers from seeking care is not well understood — in fact, many health problems that are inherited (such as diabetes and heart disease) benefit from medical care.
- Incontinence is a normal part of aging or childbirth. The changes in urination are “normal” because they emerge around the time of pregnancy, labor and delivery. But you should still seek help and advice.
- My health care provider should start the conversation. All of us avoid difficult topics by waiting for others to raise an issue for discussion, and our relationship with our doctors is no different.
- All women leak a little when they laugh. When women in their 40s and 50s get together in groups, at least one will make a joke about the leakage that ensues with all that laughter! This lightheartedness helps to defuse embarrassment, but it also suggests a kind of universality to these experiences. The belief that all women leak a little while laughing normalizes the problem, but it also perpetuates the view that professional care or advice is not necessary.
- Urine leaks are a minor problem that I cope with on my own. When urine leaks first appear, initial concerns are given to whether others see or smell it. Pads are quick, easy, and very familiar territory for menstruating women, and so they are a practical solution. Other lifestyle changes also follow (e.g., restricting water intake, avoiding certain sports).
- I can’t deal with it. There’s no question that the appearance of urine leaks can make you emotional. So seek help and advice from your doctor.
- My doctor will want me to have surgery. Many women express reluctance about seeking professional care because they are afraid that the doctor will recommend something they aren’t ready for. However you may not need surgery.
- My doctor told me to just get used to it. When doctors respond with cynicism, so do we. Such interactions can set us back on our path to health and wellness, but only if we let it.
- Other health issues are a priority for me. Research tells us that when it comes to urine leaks, women prioritise other health issues as more important.
